As someone who was mercilessly bullied all through my school years, no, I don't believe any bullying is "deserved" in any way shape or form. However, I also don't subscribe to the current anti-bullying campaign nonsense as the "cure all".
I was into just about anything and everything a boy growing up in the 60s-70s should have been. Had nothing to do with girl toys/cartoons being a sissy or whatever...the bullies needed a target and I became "it".
Regardless of whether or not you agree, those doing the bullying have no concept/idea of just how much their actions/words affect the recipient.
To this day, if I were to see my tormentors, I'd probably come close to killing them...as much as I've tried to let these things go, it's still for naught.
This young man obviously had some issues to begin with in gravitating towards ponies.
But at the same time, folks could say that I have issues because I mountain bike, shoot guns, play airsoft, build models, play computer games, etc.
Did it teach me something about human nature? Sure. I learned that there are people with absolutely no compassion, there are cheerleaders, there are tacit supporters, enablers, etc. to this kind of behavior because they lack the courage to shut this kind of thing down.
They are the "pussies" in our society, not the victims of bullying.
‘I also don’t subscribe to the current anti-bullying campaign nonsense as the “cure all”.’
Agreed - the problem is they define EVERYthing as “bullying”. Bullying is different from just being made fun of. I had it all. Very little outright “bullying” though. LOTS of constant harassment and taunting and exclusion.
I turned around and started doing the same thing with some other girls when I went to middle school. Except that was more in secret - I still got tortured by most, while secretly picking on some others (i.e., wasn’t audacious enough to actually taunt them in person). I got out of that in high school.
It’s not just you guys, BTW.
And alot had to do with how you look. Not what you do. THAT is how cruel kids are.